Wire-stitching or stapling machine



H. A. BICKFORD WIRE STITCHING OR STAPLING MACHINE Sept. 26, 1933.

Filed Jan. 6, 1932 815% rug I W' c: w 1 mm HEM n lg

Patented Sept. 26, 1933 UNITE-"STATES V 1,928,304 'wma-srr'rcnlno onSTAPLING MACHINE Herbert A. Bickford, Warwick, R. I.,- assignor toBoston Wire Stitcher Company, Portland, .Maine, a corporation of Maine IApplication January 6, 1932. Serial No. 585,039

12 Claims.

staples to other articles whatever theiruse. The

present invention is concerned particularly with means for mounting thestapling mechanism to adapt it for adjustment with respectto theclinching means whereby to provide for the proper cooperation of thesemechanisms. 7

One object of the invention is to providean adjustable mounting for themovable member carrying the stapling mechanism wherebythe latter may beaccurately positioned with respect to the clinching means on the baseofthe machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting for the movablemember or arm of the machine which, when it is adjusted for accuratealinement of the. stapling mechanism with the clinching means, may belocked in position to prevent accidental displacement thereof. Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a pivotal mounting for the movablemember or arm which is automatically self-adjusting to level the edge ofthe staple-driver in parallelism with the clinching means. .Anotherobject of the invention is to render the stapling device more efiicientin use and proof against derangement or getting out of order.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the followingspecification which describesla preferred "form of construction of-thedevice, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying'drawing.In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of a stapling machine showingthe stapling arm in normal, raised position to permit the work to beinserted therebeneath; I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal sectional view of a portion of themachine illustrating the adjustable mounting between the arm and thebase; 7 j

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective View of a por: tion of the base of themachine showing the means for connecting the adjustable mountingthereto; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the trun nion block formounting the arm on-the base of the machine; and s V p Fig. 5 isa frontview of a portion of the machine showing thebase in section andillustrating the clinching-anvil mounted therein.

i- .The stapling machine shown, by way of example, in the accompanyingdrawing is of a design andconstruction similar tothat describedandillustrated in the pending application of Arthur 'nism to adapt it tobend over the legs of the staple H. Maynard for Letters Patent, SerialNo. 466,768, filed July 9, 1930. In general, the machine comprises aflat base 2, designed to rest upon a desk, table or other suitablesupport, an upper stapling member or arm 3 hinged to the rearward end ofthe base to adapt it to be pressed down against the work which is placedbeneath its forward end, and clinching means mounted on the base beneaththe stapling mechanism to adapt it to cooperate therewith.

7 In stapling'machines of the present and other types it is the practicein some instances to provide a hardened clincher-block or anvil on thebase of the machine beneath the stapling mechato clinch them against theunderside of the work. In othercases movable clincher-dogs are arrangedbeneath the stapling mechanism and connected to be operated therefrom'tobend over the legs ,of the staple to clinch them in place. It istherefore to be understood that the present inventionis applicable touse with any such clinchingmeans; 1

In the present embodiment of the invention the base 2 is preferablyconstructed from sheetmetalin the form of aflat strip, see'Figs. l, 2and 3. The clincher-anvil 4 takes the form of a block constructed ofhardened metal and provided with recesses or clincher-grooves in its upper face. The forward end of the base 2 is pro-, vided with anupstanding, circular boss 6 which serves a's aflat-suriaced table 7,upon which the work is placed during the stapling operation. Theperiphery of the boss on shaped in an ogee curve to merge with theplanes of the table '7 and 'base 2, respectively; without sharp cornersor projections. The curvature of'the boss 6 is thus designedtofacilitate the positioning of the work on theanvil 4. The table '7 isformed with a transverse slot 8 extending diametrically of the boss 6and recessed at 9 to provide seatsfor the clincher-anvil 4. Theclincher-anvil 4 is undercut at its ends to provide abutments ll seatedin the recesses '9. The upper surface of the anvil 4 is formed withclincher-grooves .12 for receiving the legs of the staples 3, see Fig.5,- andjthe bottoms of the grooves 12are preferably of arcuate shapewhereby they act to bend the legs of the staples inwardly to-, ward eachother while forcing their points upwardly to set the wire to insure afirm clinch.

In the present construction the base'2 is cut away or punched outadjacent its rearward end to form a, substantially rectangular opening'13 withiptegral ears 14 projecting from its, sides. no

- stapling mechanism.

The ears 14 are bent upwardly at right-angles to the plane of the baseto extend thereabove in parallel relationship, see Fig. 3. The ears 14are recessed o1." slotted at 16 with the slots continued laterally intothe base 2 for a purpose as later explained. The slots 16 constitutebearings for opposite pintles or trunnions 17 projecting from the sidesof a mounting block 18, shown in Fig. 4, by means of which latter thearm 3 is adjustably connected to the base 2.

The stapling arm 3 is preferably constructed from a single strip ofsheet-metal folded into channel shape, the sides thereof being extendedupwardly at its forward end to form a stapling head or casing 19 for thestapling mechanism. Extending longitudinally within the hollow arm 3 andfixedly secured thereto is a staple-core 22 constructed of sheet-metalfolded into channelor U-shape with its sides spaced away from theopposite sides of the arm. The staple-core 22 supports the staples'instraddled relation thereacross to adapt them to'slide within the arm 3as they are fedto the-stapling mechanism at its forward end. Astaple-pusher 23 is'slidable' on the c0re'22 tofeedthe staples forwardlytherealong. A volute, coil spring 24, secured in the head19, isconnected to the staple-pusher 23 to urge it toward the staplingmechanism.

Theforward edges of the sides of the head 19 are bent inwardly toprovide vertical flanges 26.

The flanges 26 cooperate with flanges 27 on a pair of inner liningplates 28 to provide vertical grooves or guideways 29 which receive thelateral edges of a staple-driver 31 The staple-driver 31 is constructedof two overlying, flat plates 32 and 33, the rearward plate 33' being ofless thickness than the forward one 32 and with its vertical edgesprojecting laterallytherebeyond to adapt them to slide in the grooves 29at the opposite sides of the stapling, head. The forward plate" 32slides in the space between the vertical fianges'26 on the oppositesides; ofthe head 19, being of less width than the rearwardfplate 33 andextending slightly below its lower edge as shown in Fig. 1. The forwardplate-32 is thus adapted to bear against the top .of thework as thelower edge of the staple-driver proper, that is, the plate 33, impingeson the head i of the staple at the'completion of the driving operation.f

Thestaple-driver 31 is connected to and operatedby a reciprocableplunger 34-having sides afl straddling the sides of the stapling head 19and carrying a hand-rest or knob 37 at its top.

Asshown in Fig. '1, the staple-driver 31.is riveted or otherwisesuitably secured flat against the inher side of the front wall of theplunger 34. The plunger 34 is normally maintained in raised po sition,as illustratedin Fig.1, by means of a helical spring 38 pocketed in thehead 19 of the arm 3.

It will benoted by reference to Fig. 1 that the staple-core 22- extendsclear through the channel of the arm -3 with the forward edges of itssides forming a continuation of the grooves 29- in which thestaple-driver 31 slides. The pressure of the staple-pusher 23 holds theforemost staple in position abutting the flanges 26 at the forwardend ofthearm 3 with its legs in the grooves 29, thereby preventing thestaple'from dropping down out of position until it is acted upon by thedriver.

1n stapling machines of the present type, wherein the stapling mechanismis carried on a pivoted arm or otherwise movably mounted memher andthe-clinching means mounted'on the base.

forming part of the of the machine, great accuracy of dimension and fitare required in the connection of the parts to insure proper cooperationbetween the stapling and clinching mechanisms. In fact, with ordinarymethods of manufacture it is practically impossible to maintain suchuniformity as will result in perfect alinement of the stapling mechanismwith the clincher-grooves in the anvil or in the clincher-dogs and alsoexact parallelism of the edge of the staple-driver with the face of theanvil or other clinching means. It is therefore an object of the presentinvention to provide means whereby the stapling arm or other movablepart of. the machine may be mounted on the base to permit the staplingmechanism to be accurately adjusted in relation to the clinching means,after which the mounting is permanently locked or secured in place toprevent misalinement of the partsduring continued use of the device. Inaddition to the adjustable mounting for the arm the present inventionalso contemplates a mounting which is self-adjusting to automaticallyaline the edge of the staple-driver in parallelism with the face of theclincher-anvil when the driver is operated to set the staple in thework.

The means for accomplishing the above objects are as next described.Referring to Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawing, the present improved mountingfor the stapling arm 3 comprises the previously mentioned plate or block18 having the trunnions 17 projecting laterally from its sides. Thetrunnions 17 are of semi-circular form in cross-section to provideconvex upper surfaces adapted to seat in the rounded ends of the slotsor openings 16 in the cars 14 on the base 2. Threaded holes 39 areprovided in the block 18 for receiving the ends of a pair of screws 40inserted through corresponding holes or openings 41 in the base of thestaple-core 22 and the bottom of the arm 3-to fasten the block to theunderside of the arm. The holes 41 are of larger diameter than theshanks of the screws 40 to provide for adjustment of the arm 3longitudinally of the block to regulate the position of the staplingmechanism with respect to the clincher-anvil 4. The screws 40 havefillister heads, the under peripheral edges of whichare beveled off asshown in Fig. 2 and undercut or recessed around the shanks'of thescrews. This construction provides a sharpened circular edge 42 on theunderside of the head of each screw which is adapted to be indented intothe metal of the base of the core 22to lock the arm 3 in its position ofadjustment on the block 18. The indentation of the edges of the screwheads into the staple-core 22 causes a depression in the metal,indicated at 43 in Fig. 2, and effects a secure joinder of the parts toprevent movement of the arm 3 relatively of the mounting blook'l8. Afterthe parts have been connected in this manner the arm is indexed with theblock 18 so that if it becomes necessary to disassemble the parts theymay be again put together'in proper relationship to effect the accuratepositioning of the stapling mechanism with respect to the clincher-anvilon the base of the machine.

A flat spring 45is secured to the underside of the mounting block 18with its forward portion extending at an angle thereto and curved at itsendto adapt it to slide along the top of the base 2. As a convenientmeans for fastening the spring 45 to the block 18 one of the screws 40may be of sufficient length'to extend through a hole in the spring toreceive a nut 46 which binds the spring to the bottom of the block. Thespring is i 45 has'two functions first, through its bearing onthe base 2it acts to normally hold'the forward end of the arm 3 in raisedposition, as shown in Fig. 1, while permitting 'the'stapl inghead' onthe arm to be pressed down against the work; and

secondly, it serves as a resilient, autorr 1at'ically operating meansfor leveling the bottom edge of the staple-driver in-parallelism withthe upper face of the clincher-anvil 4 in the manner as later explained.

The arm 3 of the machine is "assembled withthe 'base 2by passing themounting block: 18 through the rectangular opening-13 in the base toinsert its trunnions 1''! in the slots .16 in the ears 14. The arm 3with the core 22 permanently fastened in position therein is thenpositioned against the upper face of the block 13 and the screws 40inserted through "'the'holes 41 and screwed into the openings 39in theblock. The spring 45 is then applied to the forward screw 40and the nut46 tightened thereagainst. The free end of thespring 45 bears againstthe top of the base 2 to cause the forward end of the arm to beswung'upwardly with the trunnions 1'7 bearing against the upper ends ofthe slots 16. Before the screws 40 are tightened in theblock 18 the arm3 is carefully adjusted longitudinally with respect to the base 2 tobring the staple'- driver 31 into exact alinement with theclinchergrooves 12 in the anvil 4. Upon completion of this adjustmentthe screws are tightened to set their heads against the bottom of thecore 22 in the arm3 whereby to indent the beveled edges 42 on theunderside of their heads into the metal thereof to lockthe parts inplace; 7

', Inthe 1 operation of the stapling machine the work is placed acrossthe top of the table? and the upper face of the clincher-anvil 4topositio n it to receive a staple at any desired location. The

operator then presses on the knob 3'7 to carry the arm 3 downwardlyuntil the forward. end

thereof bears against the work. The sheets of stapling head .19 todrivethe'legs of the staple down through the work. As the legs of thestaple are projected through the work their ends 'enter the grooves 12in the clincher-anvil '4 and are bent inwardly'as indicated in Fig.5,.of. the draw' ing. The continued. descent of the staple-driver e 31causes the legs of the staples s to be finally bent upwardly andclinched against the under, side of the, work in the usual manner aswell known to those skilled inthe art.

After the staplehas'been applied to t e work,

in the manner as above explained the knob 37 is released and the spring38 returns the plunger 34' to its uppermost position on the staplinghead 19 to permit another staple to be fedinto place beneath thestaple-driver 31. As the stapledriver 31 is retracted with the plunger34 the spring 45 acts to rock the arm 3 upwardly into its raisedposition as illustrated in Fig. 1, whereby the machine is prepared foranother operation- It has been stated that the adjustable mountlng ofthe stapling arm 3 on the base 2 of the machine provides for setting thestapling mechanism to accurately aline the staple-driver 31 with .theclincher-grooves 12 in the anvil 4. As previously explained, the block18 is first placed in position withits trunnions 17 engaging theopenings' 16 in the ears 14 on' the base- 2 and thereafter the screws 40are'inserted through the holes 41 in the arm and screwed into theopenings 39 in the block. Usually, only a slight movement of the arm 3longitudinally on the block 18 is required and after the correctadjustment has been arrived at the screws 40 are tightenedin placeto'cause the beveled edges of their heads to bite into the metal of thebottom ofthe core 22 to thereafter prevent displacement of the arm withi'espectto the block 18.

It has been mentioned that the spring 45 has a further function besidesacting to raise the stapling arm 3 after the stapling operation has beencompleted. Normally, the spring 45 acts to bodily lift the mountingblock 18 to maintain its trunnions 17 bearing against the upper ends ofthe slots'or openings 16 in the ears 14 on the base 2. When, however,the stapling head is pressed down against the work positioned across thetop of the anvil 4 the resilience of the spring 45 permits the bottomedge of the staple-driver to' aline itself in" parallelism with theupper face of the anvil. Stated another way, the resilient mounting ofthe trunnions or pivots 17 in the slots 16 allows a slight canting orlateral rocking movement of the arm 3 on its pivot bearing so that thebottom edge of the staple-driver 31 will conform itself to the plane ofthe upper face of the clincheranvil 4. This self-alining orself-adjusting action of the stapling arm, and: the staple-drivercarried therein,- insures that each staple applied to the work will haveits legs driven completely therethrough and clinched evenly on theunderside'thereof. That is to say, the bottom edge of the driver will becarried down in parallelism with the upper face of the anvil so thatboth legs ofthe staple are subjected to a uniform pressure and thus willbe evenly clinched.

Heretofore', in machines of the present type, inaccuracies ofmanufacture and wear on the pivot joint of the stapling arm haveresulted in misalinement of the stapling mechanism with respect to theclinching means on the base of the machine and therefore such machineshave not been efiicient for effectingthe proper setting and clinching ofthe staples in the work. Misalinement of thestaple-driver with respectto the clincher-grooves in'some cases causes the staple to be r'ockedortilted during the clinching operation, thereby tearing or otherwisemutilating the work and also preventing a firm clinch.

As another fault or defect in previously used means for adjusting themounting of the stapling arm on the base of the machine whereby thestaple-driver may be accurately set in alinement with theclincher-grooves, in the anvil; and secondly by the provision fof theself-adjusting mounting whereby the staple-driver automatically assumesa position with its bottom edge in exactparallelism'wth the face of Itis further to be observed that the present improved mounting for thestapling arm is extremely simple inconstruction while providing foraccurate adjustment and the locking of the parts in position to preventmaladjustmentafter they have once been set.

While the present invention is herein illustrated and described asembodied in a preferred form of construction, it is to be understoodthat various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangementof the parts of the device without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, Iclaim:

1. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a movablemember, stapling mechanism carried by said member, clinching meanscomprising pockets for receiving the legs of a staple located beneaththe stapling mechanism, and means for permitting adjustment of themovable member to aline the stapling mechanism with the clinching meansto insure proper cooperation therebetween.

2. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a base, amembermounted on the base to adapt it tobe moved toward and away therefrom,clinching means comprising pockets on the base, stapling mechanismcarried by the movable member, and means for permitting adjustment ofthe movable member longitudinally the clincherof the base to locate thestapling mechanism in alinement with the pockets of the clinching meansto insure proper cooperation therebetween.

3. In a device, of the type specified, the combination ofa base, amember supported from the base to adapt it to be moved toward and awaytherefrom, clinching means comprising pockets -on the base, staplingmechanism carried by the movable member, and a manually adjustablemounting for the movable member to provide for setting the staplingmechanism in accurate alinement with the clinching means to insure theproper cooperation therebetween.

4. In a device of the type specified, the come bination of a fixedsupport, a member hinged to said support, stapling mechanism carried bysaid member, clinching means comprising pockets on the support,'andmeans for permitting adjustment of the connection between the movablemember and the support toposition the stapling mechanism in accuratealinement with the pockets of theclinching means.

5. In a device of the type specified, the .com-

'bination of asupport, an arm, stapling mecha- -for permanentlyadjusting the stapling mechanism in alinement with the clinching means.

8, In a device of the type specified, the combination of a base,clinching'means on said base, an arm pivoted to the base, staplingmechanism carried by the arm, means for permitting adjustment of the armrelatively of the base to aline the stapling mechanism with theclinching means, and means for positively locking the arm in itsadjusted position to prevent misalinement of the parts.

9. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a support,clinching means on. said support, a member movable with respect to thesupport, stapling mechanism carried by said movable member, means formounting the movable member on the support to adapt it to be adjusted toaline the stapling mechanism with the clinching means, and means forsecuring the movable memberon its mounting to prevent its displacementwith respect thereto after it has once been adjusted in position. I o

10. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a base,clinching means on the base, a mounting block pivoted to the base, anarm supported from the mounting block, means for securing the arm to themounting block to permit longitudinal adjustment of the arm with respectto the base, and stapling mechanism carried by the arm for cooperationwith the clinching means on the base.

11. In a device of the type specified, the com bination of a base,clinching means on the base, a mounting pivoted to the base, an armhingedly supported from the mounting, stapling mechanism carried by thearm, and a screw connecting the arm with the mounting to adapt the armto beadjusted longitudinally of the base, said screw formed with meansfor indenting the metal of the arm to lock the latter in its adjustedposition. V

12. Ina device of the type specified, the combination of a base havingears with slotted openings therein, a bearing block provided withopposite trunnions projecting through the openings in the'ears, an armseated on the bearing block,

. stapling mechanism carried by said arm, screws passing, through thearm and block to secure the parts together, and a spring secured to thebearing member by one of said screws and extending forwardly therefromwith its end bearing against the top of the base to normally maintainthe arm in elevated position.

HERBERT A. BICKFORD.

